Tentative Board Decisions

Tentative Board decisions are provided for those interested in following the Board's deliberations. All of the reported decisions are tentative and may be changed at future Board meetings.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 FASB Board Meeting

Financial instruments—hedging. The Board discussed the following:
  1. Clarification of the "time" requirement when using the "critical terms match" (CTM) method to assess effectiveness for a group of forecasted transactions
  2. Partial-term fair value hedges under the shortcut method
  3. Retrospective transition method
  4. Presentation of the reclassification of hedging amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) in situations involving a missed forecast
  5. Analysis of the costs and benefits of the Board's decisions
  6. Permission to ballot a proposed Accounting Standards Update and comment period.
Clarification of the "Time" Requirement When Using the "Critical Terms Match" (CTM) Method to Assess Effectiveness for a Group of Forecasted Transactions

The Board decided that it would allow an entity to use the CTM method for a cash flow hedge of a group of forecasted transactions if the forecasted transactions occur and the derivative matures within the same 31-day period and the entity meets all other requirements for the CTM method.

Partial-Term Fair Value Hedges under the Shortcut Method

The Board decided that it would amend one criterion of the shortcut method related to the matching of the expiration date of the interest rate swap and the maturity date of the hedged item. That amendment would allow partial-term fair value hedges of interest rate risk under the shortcut method.

Retrospective Transition Method

The Board decided that it would not allow the retrospective method of transition. Therefore, only a modified retrospective approach would be permitted.

Presentation of the Reclassification of Hedging Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) in Situations Involving a Missed Forecast

The Board decided to require that if a hedged forecasted transaction is probable of not occurring, amounts reclassified from AOCI to earnings be presented in the same income statement line item in which the hedged forecasted transaction would have been presented had the forecasted transaction occurred. The Board will include a question in the forthcoming proposed Accounting Standards Update on this decision.

Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of the Board's Decisions

The Board concluded that it has received sufficient information and analysis on the forthcoming proposed amendments on hedging to make an informed decision on the issues presented and that the expected benefits of the amendments justify the perceived costs.

Permission to Ballot a Proposed Update and Comment Period

The Board directed the staff to draft a proposed Accounting Standards Update for vote by written ballot.

The Board decided to provide a 75-day comment period for the forthcoming proposed Update.


Disclosure framework: disclosure review—defined benefit plans. The Board discussed a summary of comments received on the proposed Accounting Standards Update, Compensation–Retirement Benefits–Defined Benefit Plans–General (Subtopic 715-20): Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The Board made no technical decisions; however, it directed the staff to perform research on particular aspects of the proposed Update.